Normally teams wouldn’t activate a player and then not play him because it would require sending someone else to the minors, but with rosters expanding on September 1 the Reds have more than 25 guys to use anyway.

Votto was having an MVP-caliber season before the injury, hitting .342 with 14 homers, 36 doubles, and a 1.069 OPS in 86 games. In his absence Todd Frazier has had a huge impact as the Reds’ primary first baseman, batting .292 with 18 homers and an .887 OPS in 109 games, which means manager Dusty Baker will have some tough lineup decisions on his hands assuming Votto is ready to go tomorrow.